25,000 Jamaican Teachers to Receive Tablet Computers. Courtesy of the USF




Chairperson of the Universal Service Fund Dr Gunjan ManSingh. Speaking. During the presentation of $700 million to e-Learning Jamaica by the USF for the procurement of tablet computers under the Tablets for Teachers Programme.

In a Covid- 19 staged press conference on the 6th May 2020 - where masks were worn and social distancing observed - the Universal Service Fund, an agency of the Ministry of Science, announced the handing over of $ 700 Jamaica million dollars to e-Learning. This sum of money will fund the Tablet for Teachers Programme and will directly benefit 25,000 public school teachers across Jamaica within the next two months. The high-profile ceremony, broadcast live and held at the PCJ auditorium, was attended by several Government officials, high representatives from the USF, and eLearning, the procuring agency.

The tablet computers will assist teachers to deliver content and lessons in a virtual environment.  The delivery of these handheld computers is timely, especially since the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has transformed the teaching/learning atmosphere. The Tablets for Teachers Programme is part of an agreement between the Government and the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) to provide each teacher in public schools with a 10-inch tablet computer as part of their compensation package. CEO of e-Learning Jamaica, Keith Smith, in his delivery said the Postal Corporation of Jamaica will assist with the distribution of the devices, which should be completed over the next two months.

 At the official handing-over ceremony, a delighted Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Fayval Williams, said distribution of the devices has already commenced and that she was happy to deliver on the promise made by the Government to the teachers. The Government, she said, is strengthening efforts to equip teachers and students with digital skills which will foster innovation, adding that the programme is essential as COVID-19 has shifted the teaching and learning experience and has pushed more teaching and learning online. “The world as we know it has changed. Therefore, the time has come for us to build the capacity of all the people. We are making the right moves to increase information communication technology (ICT) in schools and this financial support to the Tablets to Teachers project is testament.”

During his eloquent  presentation , the  Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Alando Terrelonge, said that distribution of the tablets will assist in ensuring that the education system is not disrupted, although aspects of the teaching and learning environment have shifted. “The gift of a tablet is an essential part of the learning tool,” the State Minister explained.

For his part, Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr Nigel Clarke, said the Government remains committed to delivering promises made; the devices are essential in the Government's drive to becoming a digital society while enabling connectivity. “The timing of the delivery of these tablets could not be better, in that they will enable teachers to accelerate our advancement in this new sort of world.”

Chairperson of the Universal Service Fund, Dr Gunjan ManSingh, spoke with foresight. She said investment in education is an investment in the future. She said that Jamaica will have to keep pace with the demands of the third and fourth revolution and that equipping our learning institutions was a step in the right direction as the country will have to keep up with their external counterparts.

In his remarks, the host and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Service Fund, Daniel Dawes, said he is looking forward to the positive impact the devices will have in the virtual and physical classrooms. “This disbursement is one more way to enable us to be producers rather than consumers." He further explained that the disbursement of tablets falls within the 11-year arrangement between the USF and e-learning Jamaica for the financing of projects to ensure the dissemination of tablet computers to students and teachers at the infant, primary and secondary levels.








Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Title: "Charisma and Controversy: the Parallel Political Revolutions of Chairman Mao and President Trump" by Donovan Reynolds, independent writer.

Image
  In modern political history, the parallels between Chairman Mao Zedong and President Donald Trump emerge as a compelling subject of analysis. Despite the cultural differences that separate the Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party and the 45th President of the United States, a symmetry exists in their u tilization of charismatic political careers to champion transformative, often controversial, and undeniably costly cultural revolutions.    In this article, Kingstonmouth.com argues that both political figures harnessed their populist appeal to challenge established norms, leaving an indelible mark on the political landscapes of their respective nations. We examine how the shared patterns of their leadership shed light on the intriguing interplay between charisma, power, and the quest for ideological transformation that has defined these two influential yet disparate figures.   Cultural revolutions: definition.   Political cultural revolutions are transformative periods in a s
Read more

The recent PNP Shadow cabinet re-shuffle by Donovan Reynolds, Independent writer.

Image
Opposition Leader Mark Golding recently unveiled a restructured Shadow Cabinet, a move he asserts aims to highlight the diverse talents and extensive skills within the People’s National Party (PNP). However, the decision to remove Lisa Hanna, who held the role of Opposition Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, has sparked criticism both from within and outside the party.    Critics argue that such alterations may have implications for the party's electoral performance and popularity, especially in the context of a potentially impending double election cycle. With the governing Jamaica JLP anticipated to announce Local Government Elections at the end of February, following a constitutionally due General election within a year. There is even speculation about the possibility of both elections being called simultaneously by a political crafty Prime Minister Holness.   Our position on the re-shuffling    At Kingstonmouth.com we wholeheartedly support the Leader's po
Read more

Setting the Record Straight: Jamaica's economic performance under the current JLP government, by Educator and Political commentator, Dr. Clovis Nelson.

Image
  In this article, I provide an extensive comparative analysis of Jamaica's economic strategies pursued by the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) and the Peoples National Party (PNP) from post-independence to the present day. I highlight how the JLP's strategies, particularly under the visionary leadership of Andrew Holness and Dr. Nigel Clark proved more effective for national development.   I also discuss why I believe the Jamaican people should not have been swayed by the noise of the PNP. My analysis is supported with current data from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and I take into consideration Jamaica's global and Caribbean context. Additionally, I address the shortcomings of PNP leaders, including Portia Simpson-Miller's failures, and the then-current leader's lack of economic acumen. Since gaining independence in 1962, Jamaica has witnessed varying economic strategies implemented by successive governments, primarily led by the Jamaica Lab
Read more